Hydraulics for Full Tree Harvesting Machines

Hydraulics for Full Tree Harvesting

Machines

Full Tree Harvesting - What is it?

Full tree harvesting (FTH) is primarily a North
American tree-harvesting principle where by the
tree is handled throughout the harvesting process
in its full-length form. The steps within the process include: felling (cutting); transporting (within
the forest); processing (preparing for transport to
mill) and; loading. There are several variations of
this process, and consequently several different
types of machines, due to terrain conditions and/
or tree size. For the purpose of this presentation
the most common method and types of machines
will be discussed.

Types of Full Tree Harvesting

Machines
Feller Bunchers
The feller buncher is used to cut (fell) and then
bunch or pile the trees on the ground. The origins
of the feller buncher come from the excavator, thus
its appearance. However, this is where the similarities end. The hydraulic system, the machine structure, the tractive effort and boom attachment are
all significantly different. For example, the emphasis, or priority, is not on the slewing function as it
is with an excavator. A feller buncher may be required to perform as many as six or seven movements simultaneously with each movement being
equally as important as the other. Due to the severe terrain conditions in which this machine must
operate, as well as heavier loads it must lift, the
machines structure is significantly stronger then
a typical excavator. The steep slopes, commonly
found in North American forests, require the machines tractive effort to weight ratio to be one to

S. Apps
Basic Technologies, Canada
Phone +1 905 735-05 10
Fax
+1 905 788-35 84
E-mail steve.apps@basic.ca

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Feller Buncher

Disc Saw felling Head

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one or greater where as in an excavator it is less.

Finally, a high-speed disc saw felling head
mounted on the boom is perhaps the most contrasting visual difference between a feller buncher
and an excavator.
Disc Saw felling Head
The disc saw felling head is perhaps the most important element of a feller buncher. The head is the
part which does the cutting of the tree as well as
holds or bunches cut trees before they are laid
down on the ground. The cutting is done using a
fly wheel or inertial type disc with carbide tipped
saw teeth fastened on the perimeter of the disc.
The disc is driven by a hydraulic motor while the
grab arms are controlled via cylinders.

Delimbers
Once a tree has been brought out of the woods to
a processing site, the next step in the full tree harvesting process is to prepare it for road transport.
When the tree arrives at the site it is still full length
with branches and limbs still attached. Depending
on the final destination, and intended use of the
lumber, the tree may or may not have to be cut to
a predetermined length. However, in all cases the
branches and limbs must be removed. To accomplish this a machine called a delimber is used. A
delimber is a stand-alone piece of equipment,
which is then fitted to a carrier. Typically the carrier is a tracked excavator which has had the boom

removed. The carriers hydraulic system then provides the power to the delimber.
The basic operation of a delimber is to grasp the
tree, then via drive rolls or a winch system, pull the
tree through a set of stationary knives which
then literally shear or delimb the branches from
the tree. As stated, it may be required that the trees
be cut into predetermined lengths thus providing
fixed lengths of logs for the buyer of the wood.
Electronic measuring systems in conjunction with
proportional control of the rolls or winch motors
provide this function.

Skidders
To remove a felled tree from the forest, a machine
called a skidder is used. By the nature of the name,
the machine literally skids trees through the
forest and then out to a processing site. Although
a simple process, the demands put on this machine
are unparalleled in the mobile field. Typically these
machines are 4 wheel driven, with some designs
going to six and eight wheels (bogey systems) and
until recently were almost exclusively mechanically
powered using power shift gearboxes and drive
axles. The trend over the last couple of years however, is to move towards hydrostatic transmissions
with more and more manufacturers exploring this
avenue.
Skidder

Log Loaders

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Delimber

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Log Loaders
The last step in the full tree harvesting process is
to load the fully processed tree or log onto a hauling truck. A log loader accomplishes this function.
Much like the feller buncher, a log loaders origins
come from the excavator. Many of the differences
between a feller buncher and an excavator also
apply with a log loader. However, the difference is
that a log loader has a hydraulically powered grapple mounted on the end of the boom. In addition,
depending on customer requirements, sometimes
the operators cab is elevated in order to provide
better visibility.

Hydraulic Systems and Components for FTH Machines

Hydraulics plays a significant role in todays forestry
machines and is perfectly suited where high loads
and precision movements are required. High power
to weight ratio and fine metering capabilities, are
only two of the reasons why. As a result of todays
ever increasing demands on efficiency, productivity, reliability and state of the art technology,
Rexroth Hydraulics, Brueninghaus Hydromatik and
Lohmann & Stolterfoht have developed product
families which meet and often surpass those needs
of forestry machine manufacturers.

Hydraulics found in todays FTH machines cover the

complete spectrum of system concepts and principles as well as types of components. Components
such as open and closed loop pumps, motors integrated with gear drives, standard throttling, load
sensing or LUDV distribution valves, machine control concepts from simple power regulation to full
microprocessor controlled systems, can all be found
operating in forests throughout North America.
Electronics can also be found on some machines
however, it should be pointed out that this is more
the exception than the norm. With the increase in
reliability and user friendliness of such systems,
this technology is slowly gaining acceptance and
is surely a harbinger of things to come in the evolution of FTH machines.

Rexroth Product Offering for

FTH Machines
The vast range of the Rexroth product offering is
second to none in the global hydraulics industry.
Products from all three business units, Rexroth
Hydraulics, Brueninghaus Hydromatik and
Lohmann & Stolterfoht lend themselves perfectly
to FTH applications. The following are those components or component families most commonly
used today:
A11VO and A10VO
The A11VO and A10VO pumps from BHY offer the
complete size and pressure range, along with a
wide variety of control options, needed to power
the open loop hydraulic systems on FTH machines.
Power regulated, with load sensing and cross sensing controlled A11VO pumps are commonly used
for the carrier functions on feller bunchers and log
loaders. A11VO and A10VO pumps, with load sensing controls, fit the need for the working hydraulics on skidders while the disc saw felling head for

Closed loop transmission A4VG + A6VM

A4VG

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feller bunchers rely on an A10VO or A11VO pump

with a pressure compensated control.

to A6VM motors. The A6VM with an HA control

has been used in this application since its inception and is still as reliable now as it was then. The

integration of a free flow check in the motor port

plate has strengthened this motors position to the
point where it is almost exclusively used.

A4VG
The closed loop drive line requirement for skidders
is perfectly suited for the A4VG from BHY. This latest trend for more efficient power transfer, during
all portions of the skidders operation, as well as
improved driver comfort (no manual shifting of
gears), has provided the perfect opportunity for this
pump. The initial machine control concept uses
hydraulic displacement controls with hydraulic
power regulation via the DA option. With the addition of integrated filtration, cold start functionality, and the high-pressure capabilities, the A4VGs
future in FTH machines looks bright.
Normal closed loop A4VG + A6VM
To round out the drive requirements for a skidder
hydrostatic transmission, the BHY A6VM motor
with hydraulic displacement control and integrated
pressure cut off is most often selected. Mounted
to a single input drop box with drive shafts to front
and rear axles, the pressure and speed capabilities of this family of motors is the perfect counter,
versus a mechanical system. Integrated flushing
and speed measuring options add versatility and
flexibility, which further enhance the A6VM as the
motor of choice.
A6VE with integrated brake valve

A6VE with integrated brake valve

A6V motors are also found in other FTH propel
systems. An A6V motor, in a plug-in design or
the E version, powers the tracks on both feller
bunchers and log loaders. Mounted in a gear drive,
and almost exclusively utilizing the automatic pressure control type HA, BHYs design with integrated
brake valve (counter balance valve), and an automatic brake release signal for propel gear drive
brakes, have established a bench mark which has
yet to be surpassed. BHY A6VE motors are literally the tallest tree in the hydraulic motor forest!
A6VM
A6VM motors can also be found in non-drive functions in FTH machines. The disc saw felling head,
used on almost 98% of every feller buncher manufactured, owes a significant amount of its success

A6VM saw motor

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The newest development in delimber drives also

uses an A6VM motor. When combined with a gear
drive, this combination yields very positive results
as compared to a traditional low speed high torque
motor. An increased performance and a projected
increase in life expectancy are two major reasons
why the population of A6VM motors on delimbers
is expected to increase.

GFT + A6VE
As previously mentioned, BHY A6VE motors are
very popular and successful for the propel application on tracked feller bunchers and log loaders.
When combined with Lohmann & Stolterfoht GFT
two and three stage planetary track drives, with
an internal brake release port, this self contained
and compact package is difficult to match. Reliability and a proven history in the North American forest industry have made L&S the #1 propel
drive supplier to feller buncher and log loader
manufacturers in North America.

GFB + A2FE
Lohmanns success in FTH machines does not lie
solely with propel drives. The same high quality and
proven planetary gears are also found in similarly
reliable and successful GFB slew drives for feller
bunchers and log loaders. Matched with a BHY
A2FE, the fixed version of the popular A6VE, the
GFB/A2FE package has complimented the GFT/
A6VE package and has made the system concept easy to implement where planetary gear/
motor drives are required.

A6VE with integrated counterbalance valve mounted into an L&S GFT

A2FE mounted into an L&S GFB

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MP-18
Where pumps, motors and gear drives provide the
brute force, distribution valves provide the precision control and effective use of oil for many of the
demanding applications in full tree harvesting. The
load sense MP18 and MP22 valves from the
Rexroth Corporations Wooster facility have established themselves firmly in this field. The carrier
functions for small to medium sized feller bunchers
and log loaders is one area in particular as well as
for auxiliary working hydraulics for skidders.

M7-20
For large flows, such as the carrier functions on
large feller bunchers and log loaders, the M7 series 2X LUDV valve from Rexroth Hydraulics meets
the requirements and then some. The LUDV con-

cept is already accepted in the North American FTH

machines, primarily in feller bunchers, which has
made the integration of this valve into new designs
an easy process.

M4-15
When flow and pressure limit the application of
the MP valve, Rexroth Hydraulics M4-15 can effectively pick up where the MP valve left off. With
pressures up to 350 bar and section flows up to
200 l/min, the M4-15 is slowly making its presence
felt. Working hydraulics for skidders is a perfect
place for this valve as is the disc saw felling head
cylinder functions. The modular design of the M415 also makes system changes, as result of customer demands, a much easier task.

M7-20

MP-18

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M4-15

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4TH6E & 2TH6R

As mentioned earlier, electronic proportional control is not totally accepted yet and is slowly making in-roads into FTH machines. Black and white
or electric on-off controls are common place where
applicable. However, for fine control of MP, M4 or
M7 distribution valves as well as pumps and motors, all with hydraulic pilots, the Rexroth Hydraulics TH pilot controller family is the perfect solution. For working hydraulics on skidders, and for
boom functions on feller bunchers or log loaders,
the ergonomic hand grip 4TH6E pilot controller
meets the requirements and is a popular choice.
For the propel function on feller bunchers and log
loaders, the foot pedal type 2TH6R is equally as
popular. For both types of controllers, the ability
to precisely match the output pilot pressure curve
to the required spool movement, provides the fine
metering control needed for small incremental
movements and high controlled flows for high production rates.

4TH6E

2TH6R

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What Does the Future Hold

for FTH Machine Hydraulic
Systems
The future for FTH hydraulic systems can be looked
at from two different angles, from the component
angle and from the systems angle. From the component angle, the trend will be for higher pressures,
faster speeds in smaller packages. From the system angle, the trend will be towards electronic
systems using BUS technology for integration of
all machine components and functions. The end
result with these trends will be next generation FTH
machines with improved operator comfort, improved user friendliness, a more efficient use of
available power and the preservation of the environment.
The challenges that lie ahead for the FTH machine
designer and hydraulic suppliers will require close
co-operation in a partnership format. This will insure the continued success and secure the place
of full tree harvesting equipment in the North
American wood harvesting market.

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